Page 19 of Yearning For Her

“I saw him before I went into the restaurant with Eli, and… I don’t know, Jamie, I just felt something when our eyes met. I know it seems crazy, and it sounds even more ridiculous as I’m saying it out loud now, but it was like something just….just clicked into place. Like I knew him. Like I’ve always known him. And I felt…”

“What did you feel?”

Willow pressed a hand to her chest. Her heart thumped against her palm as her face heated. “Turned on.”

Jamie laughed. “Wow. So lust at first sight, huh?”

That was what Willow had thought. Now, she wasn’t so sure, especially after their night together. It’d felt like so much more than that. But it didn’t matter what they’d shared, because one night was all it would ever be—a single night of passion, a memory that Willow would never forget.

Willow tucked loose wisps of her hair behind her ear. “I felt so horrible about it. I was walking with Eli, literally holding his hand, yet there I was, getting aroused by a complete stranger.”

“There’s nothing wrong with finding someone attractive.” Jamie nudged Willow’s foot with her own. “I take it this guy was hot?”

Willow grinned. “Really, really hot. He was tall and had long white hair. He also had piercings in his ears and lips, and black painted nails. Long, pointed nails.” And those otherworldly blue eyes…

“Like…a vampire?”

Willow laughed. “No, he wasn’t a vampire. But he was definitely gothic.”

“So when you say you met him…?”

“It was after I left the restaurant. I was standing on the bridge by myself, ugly crying for all the world to see, when Kian approached me.”

“Kian, huh?” Jamie snickered. “Even his name is hot.”

Willow drew in a deep breath. She just needed to say it, to get it out. The words escaped her in a rush. “We had sex.”

Jamie’s eyes widened as she stared at Willow. “You…you what?”

“Please don’t judge me.” Willow dropped her gaze to her lap and wrung her hands. “I was hurt and feeling so alone, and he… He offered me a night of pleasure. He didn’t dress it up as anything more than that, didn’t promise anything other than to make me feel good, didn’t force anything on me. I just wanted it, Jamie. I wanted it so badly. I wanted him. So I took him up on his offer. And it was…more than words could describe.”

“First,” Jamie said, bringing Willow’s attention back to her, “I would never judge you for having sex with whoever you want. But I will say this—what the hell, Willow? You went off with a stranger you just met? You could have been kidnapped. You could have been killed!”

Willow grimaced. “The thought crossed my mind. I even asked him.”

Jamie rolled her eyes and threw her hands up. “Yeah, because he totally would have told you the truth if he planned to do that.”

“I know, I know. It wasn’t the smartest moment of my life. But…I don’t regret it.”

“Danger and reckless choices aside…” Jamie playfully nudged Willow’s foot again, grinning. “You go girl!”

Loki started and leapt down from Jamie’s lap with a feline huff. He cast her a glare as he sauntered over to the other cats, and then slowly lay on the floor with his backside toward Jamie.

“Sorry, your majesty,” Jamie said.

The cat very pointedly did not look at her again.

She shook her head. “Anyway, Willow, when are you going to see this guy again?”

Willow smiled, albeit a little sadly. “I’m not. It was a one-night stand.”

Jamie snorted. “You had the best sex of your life, and you’re just gonna let that man walk away?” She grabbed one of the couch pillows and tossed it at Willow.

Willow caught the pillow before it could strike her in the face. “Kian wasn’t interested in anything more. Also”—she threw the pillow back at Jamie, who batted it aside—“it’s only been a week since I broke up with my long-term boyfriend.”

“So?”

“I’m not ready for another relationship, Jamie.” Willow looked down and picked at her blanket as her eyes filled with tears. “As shitty as Eli was, he still hurt me. After having one failed relationship after another… I’m emotionally exhausted. I just… I just wish there was a guy out there who wouldn’t betray me. Who loved me for me.”

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